Contra Costa County Inmate Search
In Contra Costa County, California, breaking a law or ordinance can result in detention, arrest, or incarceration after prosecution. Incarcerated persons will serve time in the county jail or state prison, depending on the severity of their offense. Interested persons may look up information on Contra Costa County inmates pursuant to the provisions of California law on the dissemination of Contra Costa County Public Records.
According to Cal. Pen. Code § 834, an arrest is defined as the lawful detention of a person. This occurs when a private person or peace officer witnesses or hears a crime or public offense. Additionally, arrests occur when a warrant is issued and when an officer has probable cause to believe a person has committed an offense. After an individual is arrested in Contra Costa, the individual (the defendant) may undergo a booking procedure during which an official arrest report will be generated.
Consequently, one of these situations may occur:
- The individual will be released if no charges are filed by the prosecutor.
- The individual will be required to post bail/bond or will be released with the promise to appear for arraignment at a later date.
- The individual will remain in custody and be transferred to the trial court for arraignment by the police.
Depending on the charge and case details, a trial court may impose incarceration on a defendant, sending them to a local jail or state prison for a brief or lengthy period. Depending on the severity of crimes and court sentences, arrested fellows or offenders may be housed in one of the three primary Contra Costa County jails operated by the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department:
- The Martinez Detention Facility (MDF)
- West County Detention facility (WCDF)
- Marsh Creek Correctional Facility (MCDF)
In some cases, arrested fellows may end up on the Custody Alternative Facility programs, supervised by the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff. Inmates serving sentences over one year or convicted of felony offenses may be sent to a state prison under the purview of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).
Inmate records are considered public in the United States and therefore are made available by both traditional governmental agencies as well as third-party websites and organizations. Third-party websites may offer an easier means to search, as these services do not face geographical limitations. However, because third-party sites are not government-sponsored, the information obtained through them may vary from official channels. To find inmate records using third-party aggregate sites, requesting parties must provide:
- The location of the sought-after record, including state, county, and city where the inmate resides.
- The name of the person listed in the record, unless it is a juvenile.
Contra Costa County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
According to reports from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Center, the crime rate in Contra Costa County decreased in 2020 compared to previous years. The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office reported a 10.2% decrease in violent crimes, from 332 in 2019 to 298 in 2020, and a 21.4% decrease in property crimes, from 1,499 in 2019 to 1,178 in 2020. In contrast, there is an increase in violent crime on a national scale for the first time in approximately four years, as violent crime rose 5.2% in 2020 compared to 2019.
Contra Costa County Prison System
Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department manages the Contra Costa County Jail System. The jail system holds individuals sentenced by the court to a term of confinement, those that are still awaiting trial/sentencing or transfer, and those who violated their probation or parole conditions.
Aside from the jails managed by city police departments, the county's jail system mainly comprises three detention facilities and a fourth facility designed to provide alternatives to traditional incarceration while maintaining public safety.
- Martinez Detention Facility
- West County Detention Facility
- Marsh Creek Detention Facility
- Custody Alternative Facility
Contra County Prison System has a rated capacity of 1987 inmates, according to data published by the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC). Among the 4 facilities managed by the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department, the Martinez Detention Facility is the oldest, Marsh Creek Facility is the smallest, while West County Detention Facility being the largest with a rated capacity of 1,104.
How to Find an Inmate in Contra Costa County
Contra Costa County inmate inquiries should be directed to the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department at (925) 646-4496. This telephone line is accessible 24 hours a day. Callers can obtain information about inmates held by the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department as well as city jail inmates. Nonetheless, each caller must provide the full name, date of birth, date of arrest, or booking number of the prisoner. Alternatively, an individual can go online to access the county sheriff's Inmate Lookup System and find an inmate's location.
How Does a Contra Costa County Inmate Search Work?
The California Public Records Act (CPRA) allows the dissemination of inmate information to residents of Contra Costa County, except when the information is exempt from disclosure by law. Consequently, anyone who performs an inmate search through local law enforcement agencies has access to a wealth of information.
This data includes:
- An inmate's first, middle, and last name
- Case information
- Photograph
- Date of birth
- Sex, race, and age
- Bail amount
- Next court date
- Arrest information
- Booking number
- Physical description (height, weight, hair color, eye color)
- Housing location
- Release information (release date, time, reason, description, and agency)
Where to Find a Contra Costa County Inmate Locator
An inmate locator is a search engine that provides information on inmates housed in a particular region or jail/prison facility. As a public service to promote community safety, local, state, and federal correctional agencies often provide inmate locators services.
The Contra Costa County Inmate Locator is accessible through the county sheriff’s website. However, to use the locator, the user must be searching for a contra costa county jail inmate, and also possess the inmate's last and first names. In addition, other search parameters such as the inmate's date of birth and middle name might be required.
Additionally, a person can access the Public Inmate Locator maintained by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, if an inmate is booked into the state prison system despite being located in Contra Costa County. When necessary, The Custody Services' Transportation Unit transports these inmates to and from the state prisons and mental health facilities in California.
In addition to inmate locators provided by correctional agencies, third-party public records websites may provide search tools to assist the public in retrieving inmate records. Typically, the search criteria for these websites are an inmate's first or last name and the name of a U.S. state. However, it should be noted that a fee may be required to view a record (this fee varies by site).
How to Send Money to a Contra Costa County Inmate
The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department offers specific channels for friends and family members who wish to deposit funds into an inmate's trust or cash account.
It is important to note that only the following forms of payment will be accepted for inmates:
- Money orders
- Certified checks
This means that no personal checks or cash enclosed in an envelope will reach the inmate, as the envelope and its contents will be returned to the sender.
The name and booking number of the inmate must appear on the front of all money orders, cashier's checks, and traveler's checks made payable to the Office of the Sheriff.
Any money order or cashier's check that is not made payable to the Office of the Sheriff or does not contain the inmate's information will be sealed and placed in the inmate's property. The money order or cashier's check must be returned to the sender if the inmate is released.
Credit and debit cards may be permitted, but they will only be accepted through the following channels:
- Kiosks in the lobby of the Martinez and West County Detention Centers
- Telephone with a credit or debit card at 1-866-0460
- Smart Deposit Website.
How to Visit a Contra Costa County Inmate
Inmates serving sentences in the majority of Contra Costa County Jails are permitted one or two visits per week, with each visit lasting between 15 and 30 minutes. Up to three or four visitors may visit an inmate at the same time, and all visitors must be scheduled and enter the facility at least 30 minutes prior to the end of any visiting block. This is due to the fact that scheduled visitor registration will begin 30 minutes prior to the posted visiting time. Visitors must have their visit slip time-stamped and in the tray 30 minutes before their scheduled appointment.
The visiting inmate is responsible for notifying the supervising Deputy Sheriff and is required to report to the visiting area 15 minutes prior to the scheduled visit. Failure to comply with these rules will result in the visit being canceled. In some instances, the Facility Commander may exclude Visitors from visiting activities due to previous misconduct.
Visits may be conducted in person or via video, and visitors must follow the visitation rules regarding registration, clearance, entrance, screening, and departure. Generally, all visitors must arrive 30 minutes ahead of their scheduled visit time, and complete a visitor’s form before approaching the Visitor Registration Desk. The registration form must be complete, legible, and contain basic information on identity, the inmate's relationship to the registrant, and the inmate's name and booking number.
Visitors are to present their completed visitor form with an acceptable photo identification at the Visitor Registration Desk.
Acceptable forms of identification include:
- A photo driver's license
- Department of Motor Vehicles photo identification card
- Passport with photograph
- Military identification card with photograph
- Picture identification cards issued by the U.S. Department of Justice
- Picture identification cards issued by any foreign government agency that also contain physical descriptors and birth date.
- Parents and/or guardians of minor children are required to present a birth certificate or proof of guardianship during the initial visit processing.
The Visiting Aide will document the documentation of the birth certificate in the inmate's visiting file and return the original documents to the visitor upon receipt of the completed visitor form and acceptable photo identification. The inmate should inform the visitor beforehand of any required documents to bring with them.
For more information on visitation guidelines, visitors to Contra Costa County jails can visit the County Sheriff’s website to get further clarifications on visiting inmates.
How to Send Jail Mail in Contra Costa County
In Contra Costa Jails, there are Prohibited mails, Privileged Correspondence, Incoming inmate mails and Outgoing inmate mails. Most incoming inmate mails are categorized as non-privileged mails. The Contra Costa County jail system allows inmates to receive mail from friends, family, and other members of the public, either as non-privileged or privileged incoming inmate mails, under certain conditions.
Eligible persons may send inmate mails in person at the Pigeonly Corrections' Mail Processing Center or online via the Pigeonly Online Platform. Persons who wish to send confidential or official documents may check the Sheriff’s Office inmate mail guidelines.
It is essential to note that each detention facility has been assigned a four-digit mailing code when tagging or addressing mail. When writing an inmate, individuals must include the following mailing code to ensure the correspondence is delivered to the correct facility.
Inmate Name – Booking Number
[FACILITY NAME] – [MAILING CODE]
Martinez Detention Facility – 1117
West County Detention Facility - 1118
Marsh Creek Detention Facility - 1119
P.O. Box 96777
Las Vegas, NV 89193
Contra Costa County Probation and Parole
The courts in Contra Costa County offer probation as an alternative to incarceration for convicted offenders. Rules 4.413 and 4.414 of the California Rules of Court, outline the criteria by which local and state courts determine whether or not to grant probation. According to these regulations, a large number of defendants are presumed to be eligible for probation, unless probation is prohibited for their offense.
Formal and informal types of probation exist in California. The Penal Code refers to informal probation as a "conditional sentence," but lawyers and judges typically refer to it as court probation or summary probation. The primary distinction between informal and formal probation is the method of supervision.
In Contra Costa, the Contra Costa County Probation Department is the local agency that supervises court-ordered probation in Contra Costa. The Probation Department monitors probationers to ensure they comply with court-ordered conditions in order to avoid jail time and other punishments. The Probation Office carries out probation orders, engages in community-based supervision, and strives to reduce the likelihood of recidivism. In addition, they assist in the rehabilitation of both adult and juvenile offenders through any of the programs at John A. Davis Juvenile Hall and the Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Center.
On their website, the Contra Costa County Probation Administration provides additional details about their adult and juvenile probation services. Additionally, individuals can contact the Probation Information Center via one of the following channels:
- Fax: (925) 313-4191
- Phone: (925) 313-4000
Parole, on the other hand, is a correctional program that permits a felony inmate in a California state prison to be temporarily or permanently released prior to the completion of their sentence, on the condition that they maintain good conduct in the community (Contra Costa County) and fulfill specific responsibilities. The parole process in California is outlined in Sections 3040 to 3073.1 of the California Penal Code.
Inmates must meet the eligibility requirements for parole, after which the California Board of Parole Hearings grants or denies the petition. An offender granted parole will be expected to live in the county where they last legally resided before their incarceration. They must also report to their parole officer in person at scheduled times.
Division of Adult Parole Operation
Northern Region Directory
CDCR, Contra Costa
Contra Costa 1 & 2
1957 Parkside Drive Suite 100 & 300
Concord, CA 94519
Phone: (925) 602-0838
Parolees residing in Contra Costa County who fail to live up to their parole expectations risk reentry into the county jail system, where they will serve out the remainder of their sentence.
Contra Costa County Jails and Prisons
The following are the names, contact information, and addresses of the jail and prison facilities in Contra Costa County, California.
Marsh Creek Detention Facility
12000 Marsh Creek Road
Clayton, CA 94517
Phone: (925) 646-5700
Martinez Detention Facility
Address: 1000 Ward Street
Martinez, CA 94553
Phone: (925) 335-4600
West Detention Facility, Contra Costa County.
5555 Giant Highway
Richmond, CA 94806
Phone: (510) 262-4200
Custody Alternative Facility
1011 Las Juntas Street
Martinez, CA 94553
Phone: (925) 313-4260
Antioch Jail
300 L Street
Antioch, CA 94509
Phone: (925) 778-2441
Juvenile Hall
202 Glacier Drive
Martinez, CA 94553
Phone: (925) 957-2700
Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility
4491 Bixler Road
Byron, CA 94514
Phone: (925) 427-8660
Richmond City Jail
1701 Regatta Boulevard
Richmond, CA 94804
Phone: (510) 233-1214
For up-to-date city jail information (names, addresses, or contact numbers) in Contra Costa County, it is best to visit the local law enforcement agency's website.
